<p>Many of you are in that exciting and stressful time of auditions. Soon the acceptances and financial offers will arrive. Let me give you a hint. Whatever you think, college will end up costing more. I am well into year two of the costs for a 5 year double degree program and there is no end in sight. Last year, we seemed to be pretty much on budget, at least until the Summer. Somehow it seemed to make sense for darling daughter to take language courses and some electives at the local State U. Tuition was not bad, but of course there was no Summer job. Net result was another $6k in the hole. I got a miserable 3% cost of living increase at work. This years tuition went up 6%. Part way in to Fall semester, my D decided she really needs to upgrade from a semi-professional instrument to a professional instrument. The cost would be about equivalent to a full year of college. So far my NO WAY has held, but my wife does seem to think it would be a good investment. My daughter's teachers have urged her to apply to Aspen. Christmas break was spent making an audition CD. I can sense the outcome. The Mozart and Ravel sounded good, but the Rites of Spring should kill any hope of a scholarship. I need to go to the library to check out a CD and hear what that piece should really sound like. This week we are talking about apartments for next year. Already I can tell the cost will be more than the dorm. Plus, she will need deposit money in a couple of months and rent will start 3 months before next year's classes begin.</p>
<p>Don't say you have not been warned....By the way, it does all seem worth it. The kid is working hard and doing great. This week she was promoted into the higher orchestra. So what if I will need to work until I am 70.</p>
<p>I feel your pain.
I do think the money pit aspect is accentuated with our music kids.
Most families are dealing with tuition, R&B only.<br>
We also have the NEED the new instrument topic and the ever present NEED to attend a summer program (and no summer job).</p>
<p>Our son attends a (relatively) inexpensive state school but for us it's pretty expensive! An F tuba to add to the C tuba, Eastern Music Festival last summer, a 6 week program this summer in Maine, etc, etc makes it a real challenge.</p>
<p>Of course, he IS doing his part.....a 3.8 GPA after 3 years not to mention just being a wonderful kid.</p>
<p>edad,
I can relate to working til your 70! I am single and borrowing on a HELOC to pay what my daughter doesn't get in financial aid. In six years (when the loan comes due) I plan to start working TWO jobs until I'm 70. Or sell my house and move in with said daughter. ha ha ha. I would be working two jobs now, but it would mess up the FAFSA, and I still have a boy in high school who deserves a mother at home every once in a while. I try to maintain a sense of humor about it, but it really hurts every time I write that big check. Darling D works part time and pays for her own gasoline, food and spending money. I try not to be resentful when I notice I have holes in my old, cheap underwear and she has 20 new pairs from Victoria's Secret. </p>
<p>I gently remind her that I am hocking the house, so she better at least get out of bed and go to class. (She has a habit of wanting to sleep until afternoon.) Actually, she is a delightful child and is working hard to keep up with classes, homework, working, practicing, and rehearsing. </p>
<p>Thankfully her instrument is voice, so we don't have to buy tubas and such.</p>
<p>that sounds all too familiar. Except for the part about a better instrument (and I'll bet that comes up within a year or so) we could be talking about the same daughter.</p>
<p>Wait a second, is she about 5'6" tall, 115 pounds, brown hair, green eyes? On school breaks, does she hang around for a couple of days then say she's going to go visit some friends? Shows up a few days later in the middle of the night then sleeps until 2 PM? Mine claimed to be in Italy for six weeks last summer, but we never got a postcard from there. Hmmm. Maybe the same kid is conning multiple sets of parents out of tuition money and pocketing the difference.</p>
<p>musicmom: Another tuba mom!!! Speaking of money pits (and if you don't mind) I have some questions for you - my son is a junior, looking at majoring in music. His primary instrument is the tuba, but he does not want to major in performance, but rather in composition and theory. He's been using loaner tubas from his hs (since our hs has an excellent music program, they have some very high quality tubas), but we figure we're looking at buying him his own tuba for auditions and for college. From all accounts (his private and school teachers), he's good (I wouldn't be able to tell) and has made various honor ensembles (area all state and such), and attended various summer programs, but we're worried about spending megabucks on a tuba for him and then if he doesn't get in.... ouch!!!</p>
<p>It does seem like the need for money is endless, doesn't it? At least trumpets are less expensive than most instruments, from what I hear. But yes, the need for summer music programs, which not only cost money, but also mean no summer income, is something I hadn't really forseen when he was in high school thinking about majoring in pre-med. This summer, at least, he has a good chance of getting an internship at one summer program, so it will actually pay a little--to help cover the other summer programs...</p>
<p>My son will also be getting an apartment next year, but he will be going in with other kids, and it will actually be lower than the cost of a dorm--of course, not lower than this year, when he worked as an RA. But RA's don't have as much time to practice... </p>
<p>Still, he is very appreciative of all our overtime hours to support his habit. And he is a great kid, who does try to do his part. This week he was printing out fliers to pass out at middle schools and high schools near the college to see if he can get some students. Trying to make up for next year's loss of RA income. And his passion when he talks about music is obvious. What can you do? :)</p>
<p>Our first financial shock came when son was in 8th grade and his teacher informed us he needed a new bow. "Why a new bow? That one is only a couple years old?" Silly me, what did I know. Cost of said bow? $1000! That much for a piece of wood with some horsehair tied on??? And I am supposed to spend this for a 14 year old? But of course we got the bow. Then came the summer camp. I wouldn't spend that much for all of us to go on a nice summer vacation, why should I spend it one kid? But of course, we sent him. Next, the new cello. "He can't possibly perform in public on his current instrument. He will never be heard at the back of the hall." And so it continued - including another bow and instrument upgrade in college.</p>
<p>But he always worked really hard. He always had the passion. He was good enough to win some prize money and get some scholarships. Slowly, we are starting to turn the corner. He graduated from Eastman last spring and is taking the year off. We are housing and feeding him but he is paying for most everything else including his travel to his grad school auditions. (Well, we are helping him some with that ;) )</p>
<p>He will be on his own for grad school expenses. He got almost a full scholarship to summer camp last summer and was able to cover the rest from competition prize money. He is only applying to full scholarship programs for this summer. So it does get better eventually. And I when I hear him play, I know that it was money well spent.</p>
<p>I wish I had been warned about the money pit long ago... like when D first started on her money-grubbing instrument! The whole process has cost much more than I ever expected. However, where there is a will there is a way! </p>
<p>Summer programs are so important to the development of aspiring professional musicians. Aspen is an amazing experience, so if she can get in there, she should make every effort to go. It is very expensive, but it is possible to pick up some extra money to help with some of the expenses. Aspen students are sometimes hired to perform at private events, some will play in the streets and earn pretty good money, others do small jobs for the festival like ushering. She could perhaps find a small job, working in one of the local businesses (waitressing one or two afternoons or evenings a week?) </p>
<p>There are also other summer programs for college students that are free or don't cost as much. Maybe we can start a list and hear about others' experiences with these programs. Some of them hold auditions around the country and others require a recording, but some very good free programs are Music Academy of the West, Kent/Blossom, National Repertory Orchestra, Colorado Springs, Spoleto Festival USA. (Sorry, I'm too lazy to get the links right now.) There are probably others, as well as international programs. I think all of the schools have offices to refer their students to these programs.</p>
<p>Oh yes, it's FAFSA time again. Even thinking about it, let alone actually doing the paperwork, churns the stomach. As we're crying in our proverbial beers, my S is a fifth year double degree viola performance/music ed major who should have finished in May of '07. After a semi-meltdown and a rather light credit load in the spring of '06, he's back on track after last semester with a 3.97 gpa. This at the cost of summer & winterterm courses, $2800 or so, plus a sister amount eaten in lost wages & additional gas or so. This current semester, a courseload of 23 credits... we begged, cried and pleaded to get any credit overload fees waived. For the now extra ninth semester, his performance scholarship evaporates, so cut $38,000 in half and add to total.</p>
<p>Plus, he's seriously talking grad schools.</p>
<p>Add this to a daughter who finishes an associates degree in May and has reapplied for a second related technical associates. Add another 50-60 grand.</p>
<p>I should be thankful he's going to make it through on the current instrument without upgrading; any colleague or instrucor insisting on an upgrade is more than welcome to fund it for him.</p>
<p>And don't think the recital is the end... you still have to have it recorded, plus feed the masses after, or be labeled a social pariah. Does it boil down to a "feed them or feed us" question?</p>
<p>Did I mention:
I broke my ankle in May and did not work for two months...
I can't sell my first born (he graduates next December and has no resale<br>
value after expenses anyway)...
My left left arm and leg are already mortgaged.</p>
<p>The credo "Live long enough to become a burden on your children" evaporates quickly when I see and hear my son on stage, or my daughter beaming because she's doing what her Muse dictates. A bargain at thrice the price.</p>
<p>If your son is applying as a comp major, will he also audition on tuba?
My husband was a comp major at MSM many years ago and only had written exercises, ear training, etc for admission.</p>
<p>Our son also 'borrowed' school horns from age 8 till age 12. Then we sprung for a new but not top of the line BB horn he used till junior year. Then we bought the C horn his teacher was selling and he used that through college auditions.....we added the F horn last year.</p>
<p>We have a great music shop here in central jersey that my husband has used for decades. They will loan out horns you are considering......great place.
PM me if you'd like!</p>